Bob ran over toward Buck, followed by his comrades. Buck looked alarmed and put himself in a posture of defense.
“Oh, we’re not going to hurt you,” said Bob. “I only wanted to tell you that I got your letter.”
“I hope it blistered your hide,” growled Buck.
“It made me nearly laugh myself to death,” replied Bob. “But let me advise you, Buck, to make sure the next time that you get the right letter in the right envelope.”
“What do you mean by that?” asked Buck, in apprehension.
“Only that I got the letter you meant for Carl Lutz,” replied Bob. “Maybe you’ve forgotten what you said, so I’ll read the last paragraph,” and, dwelling on every word, he read it over deliberately.
Before he had quite finished, Buck made a desperate grab at the letter, but Bob was too quick for him.
“No, you don’t!” he exclaimed, as he folded it and put it carefully into his pocket. “That letter’s going to cost you about two hundred dollars, for that’s what it will cost to pony up for the broken window. We’ve got you dead to rights, and you’d better pay up and pay up quick. So long, Buck. And do be more careful next time to get the right letter in the right envelope.”
With all his bluster knocked out of him, Buck slunk away. The boys were not surprised to learn in the next letter from home that the insurance company had been paid.
“Some excitement we have had here,” remarked Bob. “Wonder if we’ll ever have such strenuous times again.”